Elastic type exercising device



Se t. 15, 1970 KARL-THEODOR HAANEN 3,523,655

ELASTIC TYPE EXERGISING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1968 F 3 l?? {e /6, 2 59 I Il I f/VVE/VTO/Q:

United States Patent ELASTIC TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE Karl-Theodor Haanen,6a Altenberger Weg, Solingen, Germany Filed May 3, 1968, Ser. No.726,491 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 14, 1967, Sch 41,307

Int. Cl. A63b 21/02 US. Cl. 272-82 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn exercising apparatus which comprises a pair of handles and aplurality of elastic ropes extending between and connected to saidhandles by means of U- shaped fastening elements. Each fastening elementconsists of a web portion, two defiectable stepped shanks projectingfrom the web portion, and hook-shaped catch members integrally formedwith the free ends of the shanks. Each handle has a plurality ofapertures for the reception therein of the fastening elements such thatthe catch members of the latter bear against the side of the handlesremote from the ropes, whereas the web portion of each fastening elementbears against the side of the handle which faces the ropes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an expander orexercising apparatus which comprises two frame-like handles, a pluralityof ropes extending between and connected at their opposite ends to saidhandles by means of stepped fastening elements which allow assemblingand disassembling the expander in an easy and reliable manner.

In conventional expanders, the individual ropes are fastened to theframe-like handles by means of conical helical springs which, on the onehand, receive the ends of the ropes and, on the other hand, have a hookengageable in lugs provided on the handles. While the conventionalfastening elements serve their intended purposes within certain inherentlimitations, they can only provide a slack connection between the ropesand the handles in order to allow the ropes to be easily detached fromthe lugs on the handles. Such easy removal of the ropes from the handlesis necessary particularly because the strength of the expander must bevariable by varying the number of ropes without the necessity of havingto apply much force. The known connection between the ropes and thehandles, however, is not quite satisfactory as unintentional removal ofone or more ropes may occur during exercise which may lead to seriousinjuries to the user of the expander. Further, the fastening elementwill expand when being subjected to increased loads, and this willresult in an increase in diameter of the end of the spring adjacent thehook. This entails the danger that the rope will be released from thefastening element which may likewise cause serious injuries to the user.Due to the slack connection between the ropes and the handles disturbingrattling noise permanently occurs during exercise. Furthermore, in thecase when the end of the fastening element has a burr, the rope may beeasily damaged. Several proposals have already been made in the art toprovide a safe connection between the ropes and the handles of anexpander. According to one of said prior art proposals, a sleeve isscrewed onto the free end of the hook and is screwed back into the lugafter the hook has been nested to the lug of the handle so that the hookcannot detach from the lug. However, as experience has shown, this typeof locking means is unsatisfactory as screwing the sleeve is frequentlyomitted. In another prior art proposal, the straight wire end of thefastening ele- "ice ment is provided with a ball which can be suspendedin the handle. To this end, one of the transverse arms of each of theframe-shaped handles is provided with an axial bore for the reception ofthe balls of the individual fastening elements as well as with openingsand slide and guide slots for the introduction of the balls. Such a ballsuspension ensures a safe connection between the ropes and the handleswhile rattling noise still occurs during exercise. Production of thehandle, however, is so complicated and therefore so expensive thatprovision of such handles results in excessive manufacturing costs ofthe expander. The same applies to fastening means which require theprovision of separate securing equipment on the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention toprovide a fastening element which provides an easily detachable positiveconnection between elastic rubber ropes and a holding member, forinstance the handles of an expander, and which allows the use of ahandle made in one piece from plastics material.

To attain this object, the present invention provides an expander whichcomprises a plurality of elastic ropes; a substantially U-shapedfastening element secured to each end of said ropes and consisting of aweb portion, two deflectable shanks projecting from said web portion,and hook-shaped catch members integrally formed with the free ends ofthe shanks; a pair of handles having a plurality of apertures for thereception of the fastening elements such that the catch members of thelatter bear against the side of the handles remote from the ropes,whereas the web portion of each fastening element bears against the sideof the handle which faces the ropes.

Accodring to another feature of the present invention, the apertures inthe handles and the shanks of the fastening elements may each comprise astepped portion for cooperation with each other on the side of thehandle facing the ropes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An embodiment of the invention will nowbe described by way of example and with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one end of an expander according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is an end view of one expander handle seen in the direction ofthe arrow A of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to FIGS. 1and 2, the reference numeral 1 indicates the elastic rubber ropes of anexpander or exercising apparatus. Each end of the ropes carries asubstantially U-shaped fastening element 2 by being passed through ahole in the web of said fastening element 2 and held in position bymeans of a ring 3 tightly engaging the circumference of the rope I andbearing against the inner surface of the web of the fastening element 2.The shanks of the fastening element 2 are resilient and adapted to bedeflected towards each other and formed at their free ends withlaterally projecting hook-like catch members 4. Further, behind astraight portion adjacent the web the shanks of the fastening element 2have a smaller width, thus providing stepped shoulders 5. The referencenumeral 6 indicates a framelike handle of the expander, which is made inone piece from plastics material. The handle 6 has a foot or connectingbase portion 7 which is provided with equidistantly spaced apertures 8opening into recesses 9 provided in the narrow outer face of the foot orconnecting base portion 7 and having a wider cross section than theapertures 8. The recesses 9 are adapted to receive the straight portionof the fastening elements 2. Further, the narrow inner face of the footor connecting base portion 7 of the handle 6 has inclined surfaces 10located opposite each other in the area of each aperture 8 and slopingtowards the wall of each aperture 8. These inclined surfaces 10 providesupports for the hook-like catch members 4 of the shanks of thefastening elements 2.

The fastening elements 2 preferably are made of acetal resin as thismaterial ensures maximum and permanent flexibility.

To connect the ropes 1 to the handles 6 of the expander, the fasteningelements 2 are introduced into the apertures 8 whereby their shanks areautomatically deflected towards each other until the catch members 4 ofthe shanks have passed the apertures 8. At this instant, the shanksrelax and their catch members 4 come to rest against the inclinedsurfaces of the handles 6. Moreover, as the stepped shoulders 5 of theshanks of the fastening elements 2 bear against the stepped portion 9alocated at the bottom of the recesses 9 in the foot or connecting baseportion 7 of the handles 6, the fastening elements 2 and, consequently,the ropes 1 are locked against displacement in both directions and theropes are securely connected to the handles 6 in a simple manner.

To detach the ropes 1 from the handles 6, it will be merely necessary totension the shanks of the fastening elements 2 by laterally pressingwith the fingers against the catch members 4 until the fasteningelements 2 can be removed from the apertures 8 of the handles 6 withoutbeing obstructed by the catch members 4.

The present invention is not restricted to exercising apparatuscomprising elastic rubber ropes but also covers exercising apparatuswhich make use of steel springs.

Although the fastening element according to the invention is shown anddescribed in connection with an expander, it is noted that it may alsobe used in any similar structure requiring fastening means allowing fastand easy detachment.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising:

(a) means removably connecting a plurality of elastic ropes to at leastone handle member,

(b) said connecting means including a fastening element secured to afree end of each of the ropes, (0) each said fastening element includinga web portion, two deflectable free ended shanks projecting from the webportion to form a substantially U- shaped cross-section, steppedshoulders located along said shanks and catch means located at the freeends of said shanks,

(d) each said handle member including a connecting base portion having aplurality of apertures to receive each fastening element,

(e) each said aperture having a structural configuration including astepped portion to cooperate with the stepped shoulders of the fasteningelement and an edge portion which cooperates with the catch means tosecure the fastening element to the connecting base portion.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said catch means includesa hook shaped catch member integrally formed with the free ends of theshanks.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each said apertureincludes a narrow portion through which the catch members are moved in adirection parallel to the axis of the fastening element.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein each said fasteningelement is rotatably secured when in a locked position with respect tothe aperture in the connecting base portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1904 Roberts 272-82 3/1960McIntosh 27282 US. Cl. X.R. 24215

